KARACHI: A 10-month old girl died at the door of Karachi's Civil Hospital after her father was allegedly denied entry by protocol staff due to the arrival of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the public medical facility.
The PPP chairman was there to inaugurate the newly built Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre.
The victim’s father, while talking to media, blamed the VIP protocol given to the PPP chairman for his child’s death, as he was denied entry into the hospital.
Bisma's parents claimed that they remained stuck in the traffic jam due to the VIP movement before arriving at the hospital where the ailing girl was denied entry as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting the facility.
All the entry and exit points of the medical facility were closed and even ambulances were not allowed to enter the hospital as Bilawal, along with the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah arrived to inaugurate the trauma centre.
Read: No. Bilawal's security is not more important than 10-month old Bisma's life
"First I came through bike, then on foot but was denied entry, in the meantime my baby girl died." said the victim's father.
The man claimed that he had always voted for PPP but was rewarded with the death of his child.
The senior PPP leader and Sindh education minister, Nisar Khuhro, while talking to media said that he is grieved if someone has died but "Bilawal's security is more important".
"Bilawal, who always had security concerns, is dearest to us and whatever we did it was in the better interest of the country. As the country's well being is linked to their security."
Khuhro added that since the chief minister was also coming, so the protocol was a necessity.
Bilawal orders inquiry
Soon after the news of Bisma’s death spread, the PPP chairman announced that he was deeply troubled by the death of the 10-month old child and has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“Anguished over Bisma's death, I am personally inquiring into this heart breaking incident to ascertain what went wrong.” Bilawal tweeted from his official account.
Later the party’s media cell issued a statement suggesting that Bilawal has taken strong notice of the reports in electronic media about the death of a 10-month-old girl due to VVIP security provided during his visit to Civil Hospital, Karachi and ordered Sindh government for an impartial inquiry.
“The PPP chairman said that a transparent inquiry should be conducted into the reported death and complete findings should be made public. He said anyone found responsible must be taken to task.” read the statement.
Bilawal Bhutto's sister, Bakhtawar urged all to wait for the inquiry to be completed before jumping to conclusions while expressing grief over the incident.
In her Twitter message, Bakhtawar claimed that the PPP chairman did not order a shut down of hospital.
Dr. Said Ahmed Qureishi, Medical Superintendent, CHK, talking to APP regretted the trouble faced by citizens but dispelled the impression that this is due to presence of eminent personalities.
“It is mainly due to encroachments around the hospital that has restricted the mobility of the people, including, patients visiting CHK,” he said.
Dr. Qureishi said KMC authorities have been reportedly informed about the situation but no action was taken by them.
About the Bisma's death due to closed gates of the hospital, he in most categorical terms said no gate of CHK was closed.
